Copy to Clipboard from Windows Command Prompt

Copying Text from the Windows Command Prompt

It’s common to need assistance with computer tasks, often requiring you to share the output from the command prompt. Frequently, helpers request you to input commands and then provide the resulting text. However, many users are unsure how to transfer this text to the clipboard for easy sharing, such as via email.

Despite the assumption that this process is widely known, a significant number of individuals are unfamiliar with the methods available. There are two primary approaches: utilizing the default right-click menu or employing QuickEdit Mode. Both methods will be detailed below.

Enable QuickEdit Mode

To activate QuickEdit Mode, right-click on the title bar of the command prompt window. From the context menu, select "Properties." Alternatively, you can press Alt+Space, followed by the letter "P."

Within the Properties window, navigate to the "Options" tab. Locate the checkbox labeled "QuickEdit Mode" and ensure it is checked. Finally, close the Properties dialog box to save your changes.

This adjustment is straightforward and prepares the command prompt for a more intuitive copy-and-paste experience.

Copy / Paste in QuickEdit Mode

With QuickEdit Mode enabled, selecting text becomes remarkably simple. Simply left-click anywhere within the command prompt window and drag the cursor to create a rectangular selection around the desired text.

Once the text is highlighted, you can copy it to the clipboard by either right-clicking within the window or pressing the Enter key. Pasting text back into the command prompt requires a right-mouse click while not actively in "Select" mode.

Copy / Paste With Right-Click Menu

If you prefer not to modify any settings, the standard right-click menu provides an alternative method for copying and pasting text. It’s important to note that the right-click menu’s functionality differs when QuickEdit Mode is active.

Right-click on the background of the command prompt window and select "Mark." Then, draw a box around the text you wish to copy. This action will highlight the selected portion.

After selecting the text, you can copy it to the clipboard by using either the right mouse button or the Enter key. To paste the copied text back into the window, right-click and choose the "Paste" option from the displayed menu.